Resisting the Fiery Darts of the Adversary

Last updated on: October 28, 2024 at 11:59 am by Delisa Hargrove

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Resisting the Fiery Darts of the Adversary 2024-10-28T11:59:12-10:00 Delisa Hargrove

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When I was little, my family lived on a farm in southeastern Arizona. One day, my brother and I left the house on a quest, aka a little walk “around” the farm. I wasn’t quite five, and Donovan wasn’t quite two. We didn’t move quickly or very far down the dirt road in the hot sun before our little bodies needed a rest. We found a nice little dirt mound by the side of the road and sat down.

Within seconds we discovered fire ants all over us as they started defensively stinging us to get us off their mound. We screamed, jumped up, brushed ants off, and headed towards to the house. Mom heard our shrieks and met us on the road. Red welts covered our legs and arms. Those ants really meant business.

Resisting the Fiery Darts of the Adversary

In case you haven’t met fire ants yet, here is a short video depicting their aggressiveness when someone disturbs their mound.

Donovan and I lost that battle over the mound but learned valuable experiential lessons: inspect dirt mounds before sitting down, and . . . well, “inspect the mound” was our main takeaway.

I’ve laughed about that painful lesson over the years, especially as I steer clear of seemingly harmless mounds of dirt, but the stinging memory gives a glimmer of understanding to the scriptural phrase “the fiery darts of the adversary.”

Resisting the Fiery Darts of the Adversary

Nephi promised that by hearkening to the word of God**, the fiery darts of the adversary can not overpower us.**

And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?

And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things.

In our fight against the adversary, Paul recommended accessing the armor of God. The shield of faith quenches the wicked’s fiery darts.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

In a real-life scriptural example, Joseph Smith learned that the Lord would have shielded him from fiery darts. After Martin Harris lost Book of Mormon manuscript pages, the Lord chastised Joseph Smith for fearing men more than God.

For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words—

Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble.

Peace and Relief through Jesus Christ

As we take a stand in this morally decaying world, we find ourselves pummeled by the adversary. Sometimes it feels like we’re strapped to a fire ant hill. However, despite the adversary’s best efforts, we can find peace and relief in the power, grace, and name of Jesus Christ.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. . . .

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed

Jesus Christ will not forsake us in times of trouble.

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